Researchers find capital city of Majapahit, but not palace

Researchers from four universities in the country had found the capital city of 13th century Majapahit kingdom in East Java, but they could not find any trace of the kingdom's main palaces.

The researchers found the capital city located at a four-times-five-kilometer area in Segaran village, Trowulan district in Mojokerto regency, an official said Thursday.

"The researchers from the four universities only found the location of the capital city of Majapahit kingdom as well as a sacred place but not the kingdom's palace," I Made Kusumajaya from the Trowulan Archeology Preservation Center told Antara news agency.

"Many think that the palace is located in Segaran as well, but we could not ascertain it yet," he added.

The four universities involved in the research are University of Indonesia in Jakarta, Hasanuddin University in Makassar, Gajah Mada University in Yogyakarta, and Udayana University in  Denpasar.

In addition to the location of the capital city, the researchers also found an area spreading around 11 kilometer times 9 kilometers which they described as a sacred place.

They also found an 80-centimeter-thick stone, which they believed to be part of the wall during the Majapahit kingdom under the famous King Hayam Wuruk.

The researchers also found that the habits of people during the Majapahit period is similar to those of Balinese people today.

Many believe that many Balinese royalties originated from Majapahit who fled East Java following the onslaught of new Islamic kingdom in Demak, Central Java.

During its heyday under Hayam Wuruk, Majapahit's areas covered the whole Indonesia today and some parts of Southeast Asia, including Malaysia now. (rid)